Sunday 28 February 2016

SATURDAY AT HORSEHEATH WITH THE THURLOW



With a bracing wind blowing across the hills of Horseheath Point to point course, a venue with excellent viewing and facilities, a fair crowd came out in support of a seven race card for the Thurlow Hunt Point to Point. 
Six races were billed but the last race an Open maiden just crossed the safety factor line of eighteen runners, and split into two divisions. So, a bonus race to those who gave up their Saturday trip to the shopping malls for the day.

The first race, a club members event, saw a quality eleven go to post with horses such as the Shelia Crow trained Abbeyview a horse well placed last season after having a rocky start.
  Green Winter, a winner at Larkhill, placed at Barbury and a winner last season in a Hunter Chase. And from the David Kemp yard Brave Encounter, a winner here at Horseheath last time out.

Green Winter with Abbeyview

Shelia Crows charge was sent to post 7/2 fav, but it was the John Bryan charge Green Winter who claimed the race. 
Sam Davies Thomas took the field on from the start, but it was not until three out that he was joined by the fancied runners of Abbeyview and Green Winter. It was then over the last the winner got busy, with Jockey Zach Baker, younger brother to flat jockey George Baker bringing the eight year old chestnut gelding home up the straight.
The young jockey with a fair book of rides for the day mentioned ‘This was perfect ground for him today, he deserved to win. The last race was a good contest, so coming here we are happy he has come home in front.’

Abbeyview having a better start to his 2016 campaign than previous seasons tends to come into himself with a few runs under the belt. Finishing second to Green Winter would warrant this horse to be well fancied next time out.
Green Winter(inside) Abbeyview (outside)

The second race was for novice riders, and anything that the younger sibling of the Andrews clan Jack, is a board would have to be taken seriously.
And this was the case with the ten year old Done a Runner, already a winner in a novice rider’s event at Higham, and a horse that looks very versatile at home on staying and galloping tracks, proving himself as with the placed horses Kriss William and Curraigflemens coming over the last together, he pulled away up the straight to win the contest by five lengths. 
Already with a Point to Point rating of 100 the son of Alderbrook would be sure to be put up a few more bars on the fence.
Jack Andrews on Done a Runner

‘The horse went really well for me, jumped well and I was very confident. It was nice to get a winner at this meeting again, last year Gina, Bridgette and I rode a winner here which was fantastic, so it was nice to maintain my hold on the Novice rider’s championship.’
Done a Runner

Again Victoria Pendleton continued her education of the racecourse with the Alan Hill trained Supreme Danehill.
 Finishing unplaced, she got her mount home, ready for another Hunter Chase run on Pacha Du Polder at Wincanton mid week, her hopeful ride in the Foxhunters at Cheltenham.




Paige Fuller on Goodnight Vienna
With Hunter chases in mind, it was Paige Fuller the leading Hunter chase rider at present with two winners under her belt, that bought home Goodnight Vienna by six lengths from Irish Rebel in the Ladies open.



Seven runners went to post, the favourite, It was me a winner of four events at the course falling at the ninth in mid contention. 



it was me departs at the ninth fence

This left Fuller and her ten year old mount to claim the race, and well deserved as last time out at the course he was tuned over up the straight by Gina Andrews aboard Berties Dream.
 ‘This is such a nice horse to ride,’ mentioned Paige. ‘He jumped so well, gaining lengths in the air, and I was surprised he took me to the front, he just never stopped galloping.’
This was the jockeys fifth win of the season, two of them being on professional courses Hunter chasing.
Goodnight Vienna

The Men’s open was a superb quality race.
 All horses in the field with possibly thirty wins in Point to points between them. But it was the quality eight year old Mr Mercurial under the steerage of Paddy Gerety who got up on the line to beat the unbeaten Glint of Steel who, at post having nine successes from nine starts in an average time of the day of 6m 15 secs.
Paddy Gerety  receives his prize

Trained by Shelia Crow this Cheltenham Foxhunter contender, who won the same race last season took his inaugural 2016 show well. ‘The ground here is just right for him,’ mentioned Gerety.’ The aim would be if it is good ground at the festival he will take his chances, at the price of 50-1 he would possible worth a small bet.’ The son of Westerner certainly beat no slouches in the race, and would be well worth a look in a few weeks time.








Mr Mercurial

Tom Ellis and Gina Andrews


The Restricted race, eight went to the tapes. Again a fair quality to the race with horses such a Lule Kyle who finished just behind the quality mare Galros Lady at Ampton and the eventual winner from the Andrews/Ellis combination Total Compliance, a winner here at the track last time out beating Wivannie. 
 Jockey Gina Andrews mentioned.' Finally he's got it, he started as quite a green horse at home, but seems to be improving each time he comes to the races. He has been really well at home and would possibly be a nice ladies open horse in time.’ 
Gina Andrews on Total Compliance
It would be interesting to see how far up the bar this seven year old by Milan can go if continues to improve the way he has been going. But be sure he will have every help from the quality guiding by the husband and wife, trainer and jockey partnership, one to watch.
Gina who know goes one above contender Clare Hart in the Ladies jockeys rankings mentioned how well her season is going.
' I'm in front today, but Clare will probably ride some winners tomorrow.'
Total Compliance


The final race of the day, an open maiden saw the race go one over the safety factor of eighteen. Two divisions in that case were put out to the course. 

Trainer Gerald Bailey greets Alex Vaughan-Jones on Ignite a Light

Nine runners for division one saw Alex Vaughan-Jones bring the Gerald Bailey trained
Ignite a Light home by half a length from the placed horse here last time out Pettistree. 
The jockey mentioned that the horse who was bought at the Doncaster sales suited the left handed courses better than his previous  pulled up outing on a right handed track, 'with the better ground also it all suited him well here today. We had him at home until November doing a bit of show jumping and cross country, but he is a horse that just wants to get on with it, so he is probably not the easiest to train, he would have some improvement to him for sure, he will possibly want to come back here at Easter, but we’ll see how he come out of this race.’
Ignite a Light with Larger Thn Life

Division two of the open maiden saw ten runners to post. 
Bengo who finished in front of Pettistree, both behind the winner that day Pedro King here last time out was sent on the form correctly off at 11/8 fav.
Bengo again showed he had a small advantage over that day winning the race by half a length from Againn Dul Aghaidh the third horse home Ballalough beaten a neck. 
Bengo with third placed horse Ballalough

Owned, trained and ridden by a member of the Ferguson family and registered with the Thurlow the six year old Irish bred horse seem like the winner of the first division to be improving. 
Jockey Alex Ferguson said ‘ he finished second here last time out, if possibly we had this type of ground that day he might of won,to easy to say know but he is the type that just keeps plugging away, but we got there today.’ Alex who has been riding under rules as well as points is certainly getting the experience which can only help maiden horses of this calibre.
Alex Ferguson on Bengo

Both divisions incidentally were run at 6 min 25 secs, which goes to show the winners have very little between them. And it would be interesting to see what paths they follow next.

Don't forget more blogs and images from point to points 2016 can be seen at